Robert De Niro Demands Jury Not Hear Ex-Assistant's Testimony About His Former Wife Grace Hightower as He Fights $12 Million Lawsuit
Oct. 24 2023, Published 1:30 p.m. ET
Robert De Niro has asked a court to block his ex-assistant from using testimony from another ex-assistant talking about his former wife as evidence in court.
According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, the legendary star and his legal team are demanding his ex-employee Chase Robinson not be allowed to use testimony from Robin Chambers in their upcoming trial.
De Niro and Hightower during happier times.
As we previously reported, De Niro and Robinson are involved in a nasty court war.
Robinson started working as an assistant for De Niro in 2008. She was promoted to VP of Production of his company Canal Productions. She resigned in 2019.
De Niro and his girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
Months later, the actor filed a $6 million lawsuit which accused Robinson of misusing the company credit card, binge-watching Netflix during work hours, and using 7 million of the companies’ airline miles for her personal use.
In response, Robinson sued De Niro and his company Canal Productions for $12 million. She accused the actor of creating a hostile work environment where he often berated her in front of others.
De Niro has demanded $6 million in damages from his ex-assistant.
In her complaint, she said De Niro called her on the phone while urinating and labeled her a “b----” during one argument.
Robinson denied misusing the company credit card and said all expenses were approved. She claimed De Niro and his team rushed to file a frivolous lawsuit full of nonsense claims after learning she hired a lawyer.
In her suit, Robinson complained that she was paid less than De Niro’s male personal trainer. Her lawsuit demanded millions for alleged gender discrimination.
The parties are currently preparing for trial.
As we first reported, Robinson recently asked for permission to use emails and text messages that De Niro exchanged with his current girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
In the messages, after Chen notified De Niro of Robinson’s plan to sue, the actor texted his girlfriend about Robinson, “who the f--- does she think she is?!?!?!”
Robinson denied binge-watching Netflix while at work.
The actor said Chambers worked as his personal assistant from 1989 to 2003. He said Robinson started working for him in 2008.
From 1997 to 2019, De Niro was married to Grace Hightower. He said there is no evidence his ex was involved in his business like his current girlfriend Chen.
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De Niro said Robinson and Chambers became friends over time. He said Robinson started secretly recording her phone calls with Chambers, “who she regarded as a confidante.”
The actor said Chambers spoke about his ex Hightower on the phone calls. Chambers had previously testified that Hightower had demanded De Niro fire her in 2003 because she did not want a female assistant around.
De Niro said Chambers's testimony is irrelevant because it is hearsay. He said his ex-wife was not listed as a witness or deposed about the allegations.
The actor said he’s had a female assistant since 1989. His lawyer argued, “If Ms. Hightower had an issue with female assistants, it took her from 1997 to 2003 to get “rid” of Ms. Chambers. And, of course, Ms. Robinson worked for Mr. De Niro during the last 10 years of Mr. De Niro’s marriage to Ms. Hightower. This case is about Ms. Robinson and Ms. Chen, not Ms. Hightower.”
A judge has yet to rule on De Niro's request.
